Medical school launches online course for parents of children with autism

Sunday

May 26, 2013 at 6:00 AM

By Sandy Meindersma, CORRESPONDENT

WORCESTER — When a child is diagnosed with autism, traditional baby books go out the window, and parents are left bewildered, scared and overwhelmed. Nearly one in 50 school-age children has a diagnosis of some form of autism, a diagnosis that can be very isolating for parents.

In response to the need for education about autism and resources for helping children and families with the disorder, the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center has produced an online course that helps parents understand behavioral intervention, an evidence-based program designed to help people with autism.

"The need for education is so great," said Maura Buckley, the program manager. "We have all these experts here at UMass and at the Shriver Center, as well as the technology, and we were able to put them together to create this self-paced course."

The course is available at udiscovering.org. Monthly, quarterly and annual subscriptions are available.

"The course starts when parents receive a diagnosis, and we explain what is autism," Mrs. Buckley said. "We then moved on to what is ABA (applied behavioral analysis), and we talk about managing challenging behavior, social skills and involving parents in the care of their child, and what goes on during the day while their child is at school.

"The last few modules talk about working with the professionals in your home, how to set up your home, IEPs (individual education plans), and understanding your legal rights as a parent of a child with autism," she said.

The 10-module course, Discovering Behavioral Intervention, features six families whose children all have an autism spectrum disorder, and who act as guides throughout the course.

"Behavioral intervention is the key that unlocks the door," said Elaine Gabovitch, an instructor at the Shriver Center and the parent of an autistic teenager. "Families need the tools that behavioral intervention provides, not just so their children can learn but also to provide an environment where they learn best."

"The families (in the course) all fall in different places along the spectrum, so everyone will find someone that they relate to," said Mrs. Buckley. "The six families act as guides, and we get to hear honestly from parents about what it means to have a child with autism. It's a way for parents to connect."

Mrs. Buckley, who is a parent of two autistic children, said the course features therapists and children with autism in real-life situations, immersion exercises and instruction on objectives to help guide parents.

"There are seminars and workshops that parents can attend, but sometimes it's difficult to find the time to attend," she said. "With the online course, parents can do it at their convenience."

Mrs. Buckley, whose children are preteens, said what she wanted most was to understand what was going on with her children while they were at school and in therapy.

"Being able to interact with the professionals who are helping my child, and being able to advocate for what they need is so important," she said. "I'm not afraid to voice my concerns."

A second course, Learning ABA, which is designed for paraprofessionals who work with children with autism, is expected to be released early this summer.